Panel counting and separating apparatus



p 1957 K. A. ANDERSON 3,343,691,

PANEL COUNTING AND SEPARATING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 26. 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 71957 K. A. ANDERSON 3,343,691

PANEL COUNTING AND SEPARATING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 26, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 "HIM P 1967 K. A. ANDERSON 3,343,691

PANEL COUNTING AND SEPARATING APPARATUS 7 Filed Oct. 26, 1964 I 4 sheets-sheet 5 Sept. 26, 1967 K. A. ANDERSON PANEL COUNTING AND SEPARATING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 26, 1964 in... Q & R M Q a m H .L r O R r mm r .mm, 1. N :MWWMWHH l nn H w 9% m 6mm u United States Patent Office 3,343,691 Patented Sept. 26, 1967 3,343,6Q1 PANEL COUNTING AND SEPARATING APPARATUS Kenneth Arnold Anderson, Waterford, Wis., assignor to Globe-Union Inc., Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Delaware Filed Oct. 26, 1964, Ser. No. 406,396 15 Claims. (Cl. 214-7) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A panel counting and separating system which may include a rotatable wheel having a plurality of positions, each occupied by a counting and separating apparatus. The apparatus has a pair of spaced arms which receive panels in a first portion and which are moved by appropriate means to a second portion at which time they are counted by a lever, ratchet and pawl. A separator falls between the panels following a predetermined count and moves with the panels to maintain separated but counted groups. The separator is adapted for manual reset to the nonseparating position.

The present invention relates to panel counting and separating apparatus, and more specifically to apparatus for counting a prescribed number of panels and separating them from subsequently counted panels. While not so limited in its uses, the apparatus finds particularly advantageous utilization in connection with the counting and stacking of battery panels.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide new and improved panel counting and separating apparatus. In this connection, an object is to provide new and improved apparatus for counting a prescribed number of panels and separating them from subsequently counted panels. A related object is to provide such apparatus for counting and stacking battery panels.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved panel counting and separating system having a plurality of stations whereat panel counting and separating apparatus are positioned for counting prescribed number of panels and then separating the prescribed number of panels from subsequently counted panels. A further object is to provide such a system which picks up, counts and separates panels being continuously fed along a conveying system. A related object is to provide such a system wherein succeeding panels are sequentially picked up by succeeding ones of the apparatus.

A general object is to provide new and improved panel counting and separating apparatus characterized in its simplicity, economy, accuracy, efiiciency and time saving. Another general object is to provide a new and improved composite system employing a plurality of panel counting and separating apparatus characterized in its simplicity, economy, accuracy, etficiency and time saving.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent upon reference to the attached detailed description taken in connection with the drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of the general layout of a composite system employing a plurality of panel counting and separating apparatus constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded cross-sectional view taken along lines 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view showing the details of panel counting and separating apparatus constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention wherein the apparatus is shown in a nonseparating position;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 4-4 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 5-5 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational View corresponding to that shown in FIG. 3 wherein the panel counting and separating apparatus is shown in the separating position; and

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective nonassembled view of the elements of a separator control lever arrangement utilized in the apparatus of FIGS. 3 and 6.

While the invention has been shown and will be described in connection with a certain preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiment but, on the contrary, the invention is intended to cover the various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Referring now to the drawings, and more specifically to FIG. 1, a composite panel counting and separating system is disclosed which utilizes panel counting and separating apparatus constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. The system includes a support wheel 11 which is mounted on a shaft 12 for rotational movement, rotational movement being imparted thereto by suitable driving means such as a motor (not shown). The support wheel 11 has a plurality of stations whereat counting and separating apparatus 13a-13h, constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention, are mounted for rotation therewith.

As will become readily apparent, means must be provided for causing the counting and separating apparatus 13a-13h to be maintained in horizontal positions through. out each revolution of the supporting wheel 11 so that panels supported thereby are. not dumped off the apparatus. For this purpose, the counting and separating apparatus 13a-13h are mounted on the support wheel 11 through shafts 14a-14h which allow for rotational movement of the apparatus relative to the support wheel. Rotational movement is imparted to the apparatus, when the support wheel rotates, by a chain drive 16, driven through a suitable gearing arrangement mounted on the shaft 12 of the I support wheel, which drives the shafts 1411-1411 through suitable gears mounted thereon. With this arrangement, rotational movement is continuously imparted to the apparatus 1341-1311 as the support wheel 11 is rotated so that the apparatus are maintained in horizontal positions throughout each revolution of the support wheel.

Referring now to FIG. 2, an exploded, cross-sectional view of the counting and separating apparatus 13 is disclosed. As may be seen, the apparatus 13] has a pair of horizontally disposed panel supporting arms 18a and 18b which are adapted to support a panel 20 through associated lugs 20a and 20b. The arms 18a and 18b are in turn supported by supporting panels 21a and 21b which are connected together and maintained a prescribed distance apart by a crossbeam support 22. The supporting panel 211: is provided with a bore 23 adapted to receive the shaft 14 the panel 21b and thus the apparatus 13] being secured to the shaft 14 by means of set screws 24a and 24b. The shaft 14f is suitably mounted in a bore 11] provided in the support wheel by a bearing 26 so that the shaft 14 is rotated with the support wheel and yet may itself be rotated relative thereto. As previously mentioned, the chain drive 16 is provided for imparting relative rotational movement to the shaft 14 As may be seen, the chain drive 16 engages a gear 25 mounted on and secured to the right-hand end of the shaft 14), as viewed in FIG.

2. Consequently, as rotational movement is imparted to the support wheel 11, the counting and separating apparatus 13 is rotated therewith and, at the same time, relative rotational movement is imparted to the apparatus by the chain drive 16 so that the apparatus is maintained in a horizontal position throughout each revolution of the support wheel. The counting and separating apparatus 1311-1312, 13g and 13h are identical to the apparatus 13f, shown in FIG. 2, so that'they likewise are rotated with and relative to the support wheel as its rotates. For the purpose of feeding panels to the counting and separating apparatus 13a13h, a suitable conveying system 28 is provided. In the exemplary arrangement, a pair of endless belt conveyors 28a and 28b are stationarily mounted adjacent the support wheel 11 for cooperating to feed panels in a horizontal plane therebetween to the counting and separating apparatus. The panel supporting arms 18a and 18b of the apparatus 13a13h are provided with upwardly extending projections or lugs at their forward ends, the right-hand ends as viewed in FIG. 1, for hooking in behind the lugs on the panels (see panel in FIG. 2), as the counting and separating apparatus are rotated past the conveying system. As a panel moves out of the conveying system subsequent to the lugs thereon being engaged by the projections on the supporting arms ,Of an apparatus, the panel swings to a vertical plane wherein it is supported 'by the apparatus, see the panel supported by the counting and separating apparatus 13a in FIG. 1. It will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art that synchronism must be maintained between the conveying system and the support wheel so that, as each counting and separating apparatus mounted on the support wheel passes the conveying system, a panel is picked-up thereby. For the purpose of causing panels picked up by the apparatus 13a-13h to be moved rearwardly (to the left as viewed in FIG. 1) so that the forward ends of the panel supporting arms are free to pick up subsequent panels, a stationary upright member has been provided. As the apparatus are rotated past the stationary upright 30, panels supported by the apparatus engage the upright and are thereby driven rearwardly on the supporting arms. In view of the foregoing, it will be apparent that, with the composite system as disclosed in FIG. 1, panels are continuously and sequentially picked up and supported by the counting and separating apparatus 13a-13h as long as the support wheel 11 is continuously rotated and panels are continuously fed thereto by the conveying system 28.

g In accordance with the present invention, new and improved means have been provided for counting panels picked up and supported by a counting and separating apparatus and for causing panels already counted to be separated from panels subsequently picked up and counted when a prescribed count has been attained. Referring now to FIGS. 3-7, the details of apparatus for performing this function are shown. For the purpose of this description, it will be assumed that the apparatus shown in FIGS. 3-7 forms a part of the previously described counting and separating apparatus 137. The actual counting and separating means is mounted on the panel supporting arm 18a of the apparatus 13), see FIG. 2.

As may be seen, the supporting arm 18a has an upwardly extending projection or lug 37 at its forward end, the right-hand end as viewed in FIGS. 3 and 6, for cooperating with a lug on a panel (see panel 20 in FIG. 2) to pick up the panel from the conveying system 28. The associated supporting arm 18b (not shown in FIGS. 3 and 6) likewise has an upwardly extending projection or' lug for cooperating with lugs on panels to pick up the panels from the conveying system. Subsequent to being picked up by the counting and separating apparatus 13 a panel is supported by the arms 18a and 18b between positions A and B, which for the purpose of this description will be designated the uncounted panel portions of the supporting arms. As the counting and separating apparatus 131 is rotated with the support wheel 11 subse quent to picking up a panel, it reaches a position whereat the panel is engaged by the stationary upright 30 (FIG. 1). Thereafter, as the apparatus 13 continues to rotate with the support wheel, the panel is pushed or driven' 4 rearward to position C on the supporting arms 18a and 18b.

For the purpose of initiating a counting operation in response to a panel being driven from the uncounted panel portions of the supporting arms 18a and 18b to position C, a lever 40 is provided which has an upwardly extending projection 40a that projects above the arm 18a between positions B and C. The lever 40 is pivotally mounted on the arm 18a by a pin 41. As a panel is driven from position B to position C, the panel is driven into engagement with and past the upwardly extending projection 40a so that pivotal movement is'imparted to the lever 40 and the projection 40a is swung in an arc toward the rear of the arm 18a until it contacts a stop member 42 mounted on the arm 18a. As will become apparent, the lever 40 is spring biased so that, subsequent to the passage of a panel, the lever is returned to the normal position as viewed in FIGS. 3 and 6.

In keeping with the present invention, means are provided for storing a count corresponding to the number of times the lever 40 is swung through the above-described arc and thus for counting the number of panels picked up by. the apparatus 131. In the exemplary arrangement, a

ratchet and pawl mechanism, including a ratchet Wheel 44 and pawl 45, is provided for this purpose. The ratchet wheel is suitably mounted on a shaft 46 secured to the arm 18a so that the ratchet wheel is free to rotate relative thereto. The pawl is pivotally mounted on the lever 40 by a pin 47. As the lever 40 is swung through the above-described are responsive to the passage of a panel, the pawl 45 is driven rearwardly into engagement with a tooth on the ratchet wheel 44 and imparts counterclockwise rotational movement thereto to advance the ratchet wheel one step. Each time the ratchet wheel 44 is rotated one step or tooth in the counterclockwise direction, a spring stop member 49, secured to the arm 18a, snaps under a succeeding tooth of the ratchet wheel to prevent the ratchet wheel from rotating in the clockwise direction. It will be apparent that the ratchet wheel 44 may be provided with any desired number of teeth so that, when the ratchet wheel has been rotated through a complete revolution, a desired number of panels will have been counted by the apparatus.

For the purpose of returning the lever 40 to its normal position as shown in FIGS. 3 and 6 and for the purpose of retracting the pawl 45 to condition the pawl for a subsequent ratchet wheel stepping operation, a spring 50 is connected between one end of the pawl and the lever. During the time period when a panel is passing over the projection 40a, it will be apparent that the spring 50 is stretched into tension. After the panel passes the projecjection 40a, the spring 50 causes the lever 40 to pivot in the clockwise direction to the position shown in FIGS. 3 and 6 whereat the lever engages a stop pin 51. At the same time, the pawl 45 is retracted to the position shown in FIGS. 3 and 6. Thus, the lever 40 is biased by the spring 50 to the position shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, and the apparatus is thereby conditioned for a subsequent counting operation.

In order to more clearly understand the relationship between the arm 18a, the lever 40, the ratchet wheel 44 and the pawl 45, reference may be made to the crosssectional view shown in FIG. 4.

In further keeping with the present invention, means are provided for responding to the ratchet wheel 44 completing a revolution to separate the panels already counted at that time from panels subsequently counted. More specifically, means are provided for causing a separating member 52 to .be maintained in a non-separating position as shown in FIG. 3 during the time period when a prescribed number of panels are being counted, i.e., when the ratchet wheel 44 is passing through a revolution, and for causing the separator 52 to be moved to a separating position as shown in FIG. 6 when the prescribed num,

her of panels have been counted, i.e., when the ratchet wheel 44 has completed a revolution.

As may be seen by reference to FIGS. 3, 5 and 6, the separator 52 is secured to a sliding block 53 which is slidably mounted on a support bar 54. The support bar 54 is in turn mounted on a carrier plate assembly 54a which includes pivot block 54b and anchor block 540. The carrier plate assembly 54a at pivot block 54b is journaled for pivotal movement about pin 55 which is secured to arm 18a so that entire assembly of the separator 52, the sliding block 53, the support bar 54, and carrier plate assembly 54a may be pivoted relative to the arm 18a. The pivotal movement of carrier plate assembly 54a is efiectively limited and contained between the uppermost surface of support member 60 and pin 72. The carrier plate assembly 54a is also contained by guide plate 42 by having its free right-hand extremity slidably positioned in notch 42:: formed in and between the guide plate 42 and the arm 18a. It will be noted that the guide plate 42 serves the ancillary purpose of limiting arcuate movement of lever 40 and its associated pawl 45 thereby eifectively preventing the pawl 45 from actuating the ratchet Wheel 44 more than one step or tooth at a time. The block 53 is slidably mounted on the support bar 54 so that, subsequent to the separator 52 being moved to the separating position, the separator 52 may be driven rearwardly as subsequent panels are counted and driven to position C by the stationary upright 30.

For the purpose of causing the separator 52 to be maintained in the nonseparating position during the time period when a prescribed number of panels are being counted and for the purpose of causing the separator to be moved to the separating position when the prescribed number of panels have been counted, a separator control lever 58 is provided which is mounted on the arm 18a for pivotal movement about a pin 59. The pin 59 is secured to a support member 60 which in turn is secured to the arm 18a. As may be seen by reference to FIGS. 3 and 57, the separator control lever 58 is provided with an offset portion 58a adapted to engage a pin 62 secured to the sliding block 53 for maintaining the separator 52 in the nonseparating position.

For the purpose of causing the separator control lever 53 to be moved between the position shown in FIGS. 3 and 6 whereby the separator 52 may be maintained in the nonseparating position or moved to the separating position, a spring loaded plunger 65 is provided. The spring loaded plunger cooperates with a cam member 66, which has a stepped portion 66a and which is mounted on the ratchet wheel 44 for rotational movement therewith, to control such positioning of the lever 58. The plunger 65 is slidably mounted in a pair of apertures 60a and 66b in the support member 60 and has a recessed portion 65:: which is adapted to be received in a slot 58b provided in the lower end of the lever 58 so that the lower end of the lever moves with the plunger. As may be seen, a spring 67 is interposed between the support member 60 and the lever 58, in surrounding relationship with the plunger 65, for urging the plunger toward the right, as viewed in FIGS. 3 and 6, into engagement with the periphery of the cam member 66.

When the right-hand end of the plunger 65 engages the non-stepped portidn of the cam member 66, see FIG. 3, the separator control lever 58 is maintained in the position shown so that the pin 62 on the sliding block 53 may be engaged by the offset portion 58a of the lever to maintain the separator 52 in the position shown. Under these conditions, the separator 52 is in the non-separating position so that panels passing over the projection 40a of the lever 40 are free to move under a projecting lip portion 52a of the separator to position C. When the cam member 66 has been rotated with the ratchet wheel 44 to the position shown in FIG. 6 whereat the stepped portion 66a of the cam member cooperates with a stepped portion 6512, provided at the right end of the plunger 65,

the plunger is caused to be driven by the spring 67 to the right into the stepped portion of the cam member. As the plunger moves to the right, the separator control lever 58 is pivoted in the counterclockwise direction about the pin 59 to the position shown in FIG. 6 so that the offset portion 58a moves out of engagement with the pin 62. As a result, the assembly of the separator 52, the sliding block 53 and the support bar 54 drop by gravity to the separating position shown in FIG. 6 whereat the carrier plate assembly 54a engages the support member 60. The next panel driven over the projection 40a of the lever 40 is moved into engagement with the lip portion 521: of the separator. Thus, panels counted prior to the time at which the separator 52 drops by gravity to the separating position are separated from panels counted thereafter. Since the sliding block 53 is slidably mounted on the support bar 54, the separator 52 and the sliding block 53 are moved rearwardly, as subsequently counted panels are moved across the projection 40a to position C. At the same time, the counted and separated panels are forced rearwardly along the arms 18a and 18b by the lip portion 52a of the separator.

In keeping with the present invention, the separator control lever 58 is designed to allow the separator 52 and the sliding block 53 to be moved rearwardly therepast when the lever is in the position shown in FIG. 6. For this purpose, the separator control lever 58 is provided with a groove 53c (FIGS. 5 and 7) which is adapted to allow the sliding block 53 to pass therethrough as it moves rearwardly along the support bar 54. Thus, the separator control lever 53 maintains the separator 52 in the nonseparating position shown in FIG. 3 when the plunger 65 engages the non-stepped portion of the cam member 66 and allows the separator to be moved rearwardly when the plunger is driven into the stepped portion 66a of the cam member and the separator control lever 58 is pivoted to the position shown in FIG. 6 whereat the separator drops to the separating position.

In view of the foregoing, it will be apparent that, if the cam member 66 is positioned on the ratchet wheel 44 so that the plunger 65 is driven into the stepped portion 66a coincident with the ratchet wheel completing a revolution, the separator 52 is dropped to the separating position when the ratchet wheel completes a revolution. Moreover, when a prescribed number of panels, determined by the number of teeth on the ratchet wheel, have been counted, the separator 52 is dropped to the separating position so that subsequently counted panels are separated from the prescribed number of panels by the separating lip 52a of the separator.

In order to more clearly understand the details of the relationship between the separator 52, the sliding block 53, the support bar 54, the separator control lever 58 and the plunger 65, reference may be made to the cross-sectional view in FIG. 5. Additionally, reference may be made to FIG. 7 with respect to the details of the separator control lever and the plunger.

For the purpose of allowing the cam member 66 to be rotated relative to the ratchet wheel 44 whereby the cam member may be aligned with the ratchet wheel so that the plunger 65 is driven into the step 66:: at the completion of each revolution of the ratchet wheel, the cam member 66 is secured to the ratchet Wheel 44 by a pair of screw members 70a and 70b which extend through arcuate slots 71a and 71b in the cam member 66. When the screw members 70a and 70b are unscrewed a slight amount, the cam member is free to be rotated relative to the ratchet wheel 44 an amount limited by the length of the arcuate slots whereby the cam member may be aligned with the ratchet wheel. The screw members 70a and 7% may then be tightened to lock the cam member 66 in place on the ratchet wheel.

' As panels are counted subsequent to the separator 52 dropping to the separating position, the separator and the associated sliding block 53 are driven rearwardly. At the same time, the right end of the plunger 65 rides along an inclined surface 66b of the cam member 66 toward the nonstepped periphery thereof. As the plunger rides along the surface 66b, the plunger 65 is gradually driven rearwardly so that the separator control lever 58 is gradually pivoted from the position shown in FIG. 6 to the position shown in FIG. 3. Prior to the time that the plunger 65 again engages the nonstepped portion of the cam member 66 and the lever 58 again attains the position shown in FIG. 3, the sliding block 53 completely passes through the slot 58c in the lever. In other Words, the sliding block 53 clears the slot 58c well in advance of the time that the lever attains the position shown in FIG. 3.

7 When the sliding block 53 has cleared the slot 580, which occurs when the right end of plunger 65 rides substantially out of the stepped and inclined portions of cam member 66, the separator 52 may be reset to the position shown in FIG. 3. To accomplish such resetting, a projecting finger 52b of the separator 52 is manually grasped by an operator, and the separator is lifted to the reset position shown in phantom lines in FIG. 6. The separator and sliding block 53 are then manually slid along the support bar. 54 in a forward direction until the supporting pin or post 62 is moved into engagement with the offset portion 58a of the separator control lever 58. At this time, the device is conditioned for a subsequent counting and separating operation. It will be readily apparent, however, that the operator will remove the previously counted and separated panels from the apparatus prior to resetting the separator to the position shown in FIG. 3. Otherwise, the operation of the apparatus would be defeated since the previously counted and separated panels would be mixed with the subsequently counted panels.

A description of the operation of the counting and separating apparatus may be helpful in providing a better understanding of the present invention. For this purpose, it will be assumed that the apparatus is initially in the separating position shown in FIG. 6. In other words, the apparatus is in the position whereat a prescribed number of panels have been counted and the separator 52 has been moved to the separating position. As the support wheel 11 in FIG. 1 is continuously rotated, the apparatus 13f is driven past the conveying system 28 once during each revolution to pick up a panel. Subsequent to picking up the first panel after the separator 52 is dropped to the separating position, the device 13f moves past the stationary upright 30. The panel is engaged by the upright 30 and is driven past the projection a of the lever 40 into engagement with the separating lip 52a of the separator 52 and then the panel and the separator 52 are driven rearwardly by the upright until the panel reaches position C. In response to the passage of the panel over the projection 40a the lever 40 is caused to pivot through the above described are whereby the ratchet wheel 44 is caused to rotate one step. As subsequent panels are picked up and driven to position C by the stationary upright 30, the ratchet wheel 44 is repeatedly stepped to count the panels. At the same time, the separator 52 is repeatedly being driven rea'rwardly as the panels are driven to position C. When the separator 52 has been driven rearwardly a sulficient amount, the sliding block 53 clears the slot 580 in the separator control lever 58 so that the separator may 'be reset. Thereafter, an operator may remove the previously counted and separated panels and may manually reset the separator to the position shown in FIG. 3. As panels are picked up and counted subsequent to resetting of the separator, they are driven under the separating lip 52a to position C. When a prescribed number of panels have been counted corresponding to the number of teeth on the ratchet wheel 44, the plunger 65 is again driven into the step 66a on the cam member 66 by the spring 67 so that the separator control lever 58 is pivoted to the position shown in FIG. 6 whereat the offset portion 58a moves out of engagement with the separator supporting pin 62. The separator then drops by gravity to the separating position so that the prescribed number of counted panels are thereafter separated by the separating lip 5211 from subsequently counted panels.

All of the counting and separating apparatus 13a-13h will continuously operate in this manner as long as the composite system of FIG. 1 is maintained in operation. While only eight apparatus of this type are associated with the support wheel in FIG. 1, it will be readily appreciated that any desired number of such apparatus may be associated therewith and the invention is intended to cover the utilization of any desired number of such apparatus.

What is claimed is:

1. Panel counting and separating apparatus, comprising a pair of generally horizontal parallel arms having first portions for receiving and supporting uncounted panels and second portions for supporting counted panels in their vertical positions, a lever pivotally mounted on said arms, said apparatus having a projection that normally extends above the arms to separate the two portions thereof and which is pivoted through a prescribed are when a panel ismoved from the first portions of the arms into engagement with and past the projection to the second portions of the arms, a ratchet wheel mounted on the apparatus for rotational movement relative thereto in a prescribed direction and having a plurality of teeth corresponding to a prescribed number of panels to be counted, a pawl pivotally mounted on the lever for drivingly engaging a tooth'on the ratchet wheel each time the lever is pivoted through the prescribed arc to steppingly advance the ratchet wheel, a spring secured between the pawl and the lever for causing the lever to be returned to its normal position subsequent to the passage of a panel, a cam member associated with the ratchet wheel and movable through its total travel during each complete rotation of the ratchet wheel, a separator pivotally mounted on the apparatus for movement between separating and nonseparating positions, and separator control means mounted on the apparatus which is normally maintained in a position whereat the separator may thereby be maintained in the nonseparating position and which moves to a second position when the cam member reaches a prescribed position in its total travel indicative of a prescribed number of panels having been counted to cause the separator to be pivotally moved to the separating position so that subsequently counted panels are separated from the panels already counted, the separator control means re turning to its normal position subsequent to the cam member reaching the prescribed position in its total travel, the separator being adapted to be moved, subsequent to the removal of the counted and separated panels, to the nonseparating position whereat it is maintained by the separator control means.

2. In panel counting and separating apparatus, the combination which comprises a pair of horizontal arms having first portions for receiving and supporting uncountedpanels and second portions for supporting counted panels in their vertical positions, a spring-biased lever mounted on said arms having a projection that normally extends above the arms to separate the two portions thereof and which is pivoted through a prescribed are when a panel is moved from the first portions of the arms into engagement with and past the projection to the second portions ofthe arms, the lever being returned to its normal position subsequent to the passage of a panel, a ratchet wheel mounted on said arms for rotational movement relative thereto in a prescribed direction and having a plurality of teeth corresponding in number to a prescribed number of panels to be counted, a pawl mounted on the lever for drivingly engaging a tooth on the ratchet wheel each time the lever is pivoted through the prescribed arc to steppingly advance the ratchet wheel, a cylindrical cam having stepped and nonstepped portions which is mounted on the ratchet wheel for rotational movement therewith, a separator slidably mounted on a support bar which is pivotally secured to the arms for movement between a nonseparating position and a separating position, a separator control lever pivotally mounted on the arms for movement between a first position whereat the separator may thereby be maintained in the nonseparating position and a second position whereat the separator is permitted to be pivotally moved to the separating position so that subsequently counted panels are separated from the panels already counted, and a spring-loaded plunger connected to the separator control lever for controlling pivotal movement thereof and engaging the cam so that, when the nonstepped portion is engaged thereby, the separator control lever is maintained in the first position and, when the stepped portion is engaged thereby, the separator control lever is pivoted to the second position, the separator being engaged and slidably moved along the support bar by panels counted subsequent to the separator being moved to the separating position and being adapted to be moved, subsequent to the removal of the counted and separated panels, to the nonseparating position whereat it is maintained by the separator control lever.

3. In panel counting and separating apparatus the combination which comprises arm means, said arm means having first portions for receiving and supporting uncounted panels and second portions for supporting counted panels, counting means mounted on said arm means and responsive to movement of panels from the first portions to the second portions of the arm means for individually counting said panels, a separator mounted on said arm means for movement between nonseparating and separating positions, and separator control means mounted on said arm means operatively connected to the separator to maintain the separator in the nonseparating position and responsive to the counting means to cause the separator to be moved to the separating position when a prescribed count is attained so that the subsequently counted panels are separated from the panels already counted, the separator being adapted to be moved, subsequent to the removal of the counted and separated panels to the nonseparating position whereat it is maintained by the separator control means.

4. The panel counting and separating apparatus of claim 3 wherein said arm means comprises two substantially parallel generally horizontal arms spaced to support said panels thereon.

5. The panel counting and separating apparatus of claim 4 wherein pusher means is provided to engage and move said panels from said first portions to said second portions whereby actuation of said counting means is effected.

6. The panel counting and separating apparatus of claim 5 wherein said counting means comprises a pawl actuated by movement of said panels from the first portions to the second portions and a ratchet responsive to said pawl to accumulate the actuations of said pawl and to actuate said separator control means in response to a predetermined number of actuations.

7. The panel counting and separating apparatus of claim 6 wherein said separator is maintained displaced from said arm means in the nonseparating position by cam actuated means and said ratchet actuates said cam actuated means to release said separator to the separating position Whenever a predetermined number of panels have been counted.

8. The panel counting and separating apparatus of claim 7 wherein a lever is disposed in the path of said panels as they move from said first to said second portions, said lever actuating said pawl.

9. A composite panel counting system comprising a plurality of counting and separating apparatus as set forth in claim 7, a rotatable support Wheel having a plurality of positions, one of said counting and separating apparatus being disposed at each of said positions, means supplying said panels sequentially to said first portions of said plurality of apparatus and means associated With said wheel and movable relative to said apparatus to move said panels sequentially from said first portion to said second portion on sequential apparatus.

10. The panel counting and separating apparatus of claim 3 wherein said separator is movable along said arm means whereby an additional group of panels may be counted while said separator is in the separating position.

11. The panel counting and separating apparatus of claim 10 wherein said separator is slidably mounted on a guide which is pivotally secured to said second portions at a position remote from said first portions whereby said separator may be raised from the separating position and reset into the nonseparating position.

12. A composite panel counting system comprising a plurality of counting and separating apparatus as set forth in claim 10, a rotatable support wheel having a plurality of positions, one of said counting and separating apparatus being disposed at each of said positions, means supplying said panels sequentially to said first portions of said plurality of apparatus and means associated with said wheel and movable relative to said apparatus to move said panels sequentially from said first portion to said second portion on sequential apparatus.

13. A composite panel counting system comprising a plurality of counting and separating apparatus as set forth in claim 4, a rotatable support Wheel having a plurality of positions, one of said counting and separating apparatus being disposed at each of said positions, means supplying said panels sequentially to said first portions of said plurality of apparatus and means associated with said wheel and movable relative to said apparatus to move said panels sequentially from said first portion to said second portion on sequential apparatus.

14. A composite panel counting system including a plurality of counting and separating apparatus as set forth in claim 4, a rotatable support wheel having a plurality of positions, one of said counting and separating apparatus being disposed at each of said positions, means supplying said panels sequentially to said first portions of said plurality of apparatus, and a lever disposed between said arms and engageable with said panels as said wheel rotates to move said panels from said first portions to said second portions.

15. The panel counting system of claim 14 wherein said separator is slidably mounted on a guide which is pivotally secured to said second portions at a position remote from said first portions whereby said separator may be raised from the separating position and reset into the nonseparating position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,221,196 4/1917 Lewis 19835 2,260,540 10/ 1941 Schramm 214-6 2,859,859 11/1958 Winkel et a1 l9 835 2,897,950 8/1959 Reed 198-35 3,057,453 10/1962 McAlpine et a1 198-35 3,144,169 8/1964 Boyd 2147 GERALD M. FORLENZA, Primary Examiner.

J. E. OLDS, Assistant Examiner. 

1. PANEL COUNTING AND SEPARATING APPARATUS, COMPRISING A PAIR OF GENERALLY HORIZONTAL PARALLEL ARMS HAVING FIRST PORTIONS FOR RECEIVING AND SUPPORTING UNCOUNTED PANELS AND SECOND PORTIONS FOR SUPPORTING COUNTED PANELS IN THEIR VERTICAL POSITIONS, A LEVER PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID ARMS, SAID APPARATUS HAVING A PROJECTION THAT NORMALLY EXTENDS ABOVE THE ARMS TO SEPARATE THE TWO PORTIONS THEREOF AND WHICH IS PIVOTED THROUGH A PRESCRIBED ARC WHEN A PANEL IS MOVED FROM THE FIRST PORTIONS OF THE ARMS INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH AND PAST THE PROJECTION TO THE SECOND PORTIONS OF THE ARMS, A RATCHET WHEEL MOUNTED ON THE APPARATUS FOR ROTATIONAL MOVEMENT RELATIVE THERETO IN A PRESCRIBED DIRECTION AND HAVING A PLURALITY OF TEETH CORRESPONDING TO A PRESCRIBED NUMBER OF PANELS TO BE COUNTED, A PAWL PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON THE LEVER FOR DRIVINGLY ENGAGING A TOOTH ON THE RATCHET WHEEL EACH TIME THE LEVER IS PIVOTED THROUGH THE PRESCRIBED ARC TO STEPPINGLY ADVANCE THE RATCHET WHEEL, A SPRING SECURED BETWEEN THE PAWL AND THE LEVER FOR CAUSING THE LEVER TO BE RETURNED TO ITS NORMAL POSITION SUBSEQUENT TO THE PASSAGE OF A PANEL, A CAM MEMBER ASSOCIATED WITH THE RATCHET WHEEL AND MOVABLE THROUGH ITS TOTAL TRAVEL DURING EACH COMPLETE ROTATION OF THE RATCHET WHEEL, A SEPARATOR PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON THE APPARATUS FOR MOVEMENT BETWEEN SEPARATING AND NONSEPARATING POSITIONS, AND SEPARATOR CONTROL MEANS MOUNTED ON THE APPARATUS WHICH IS NORMALLY MAINTAINED IN A POSITION WHEREAT THE SEPARATOR MAY THEREBY BE MAINTAINED IN THE NONSEPARATING POSITION AND WHICH MOVES TO A SECOND POSITION WHEN THE CAM MEMBER REACHES A PRESCRIBED POSITION IN ITS TOTAL TRAVEL INDICATIVE OF A PRESCRIBED NUMBER OF PANELS HAVING BEEN COUNTED TO CAUSE THE SEPARATOR TO BE PIVOTALLY MOVED TO THE SEPARATING POSITION SO THAT SUBSEQUENTLY COUNTED PANELS ARE SEPARATED FROM THE PANELS ALREADY COUNTED, THE SEPARATOR CONTROL MEANS RETURNING TO ITS NORMAL POSITION SUBSEQUENT TO THE CAM MEMBER REACHING THE PRESCRIBED POSITION IN ITS TOTAL TRAVEL, THE SEPARATOR BEING ADAPTED TO BE MOVED, SUBSEQUENT TO THE REMOVAL OF THE COUNTED AND SEPARATED PANELS, TO THE NONSEPARATING POSITION WHEREAT IT IS MAINTAINED BY THE SEPARATOR CONTROL MEANS. 